Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2012 to study the influence of different levels of nitrogen and plant densities on growth and yield parameters of maize. Taller plants were produced by 200 kg N/ha which was statistically at par with the other two treatments of 150 and 250 kg N/ha. Progressive increase in LAI and dry matter production (g/m2) and yield attributes like cob weight (9492 kg/ha), cob girth (14.90 cm), number of rows per cob (14.21), number of grains per row (34.38) and 100-grain weight (30.61 g) was observed due to increased nitrogen levels from 150 to 250 kg/ha and highest cob length (17.82 cm) and shelling percentage (64.79%) were recorded at 200 kg N/ha. Application of 250 kg N/ha produced higher grain and stover yields and also higher net returns than other levels (150 and 200 kg N/ha) but net returns were comparable with 200 kg N/ha. Growth parameters were inconsistent with different spacings. The highest plant height was recorded at a spacing of 75 x 20 cm, maximum leaf area index was recorded at 45 x 20 cm and dry matter production was higher at 60 x 15 cm. However, with regard to yield parameters higher cob yield, grain yield and net returns were obtained at a spacing of 75 x 15 cm.